Can facial moles be removed?

Facial moles can be removed, often with minimal scarring. The procedure varies according to the type of mole, whether it’s flat or raised, and if a sample of skin needs to be sent to a laboratory for examination.

Most moles and other skin lesions can be removed from the face. The mole removal procedure varies according to the diagnosis, the type of mole and patient preferences.

Skin cancers on the face are most commonly removed by surgical removal to ensure complete clearance, although other techniques such as topical creams and photodynamic therapy can be used if the skin cancer is minor and in an area where surgical removal could be difficult or lead to a poor cosmetic outcome.

Harmless moles are often removed for cosmetic purposes, and the time for facial mole removal surgery to heal is generally shorter than the rest of the body.

Using laser or intense pulsed light to remove moles is a good way of minimising the risk of scarring when the skin lesion is pigmented and flat, for example a lentigo (age spot), angioma or cluster of blood vessels. It can be used for certain flat moles, but this must only be done by an experienced and qualified skin cancer doctor after determining that the flat mole is not a skin cancer.

Radiofrequency surgery can be used to destroy raised moles. Results on the face, especially the nose, are usually excellent.

Any mole removal procedure can potentially lead to scarring, even when lower scarring techniques such as laser, IPL or radiofrequency surgery are used. The risk is higher in younger people (under 30 years old) and those with darker (type IV-VI) skin. It’s important to bear this in mind when considering removal of facial moles.